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Course Overview

This course is ideal if you wish to have a career in nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, radiography, occupational therapy, paramedic practitioner, operating theatre practitioner and other health related professions.

The Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma is a qualification which will prepare you for study at degree level. If you would like to go to university but left school without the qualifications you need, then an Access to HE course could be for you.

The course is run over 1 academic year and is designed for learners aged 19 years and above. Advanced Learner Loans are available to help you fund your course.

Entry Requirements

3 GCSEs at grade C or above including English Language and/or Maths. NVQs may be accepted in place of GCSEs. (Evidence must be provided.)

Prior to enrolment literacy and numeracy assessments must be completed alongside a written exercise and an informal discussion with the course tutor.

Qualification Obtained

Access to Higher Education Diploma: Health and Social Care Professions

Career Options and Progression

Successful students can move to Higher Education study, either at Blackpool and the Fylde College or other institutions. This course is ideal if you would like to work in health professions such as midwifery, nursing, physiotherapy, radiography, occupational therapy, paramedic practitioner, operating theatre practitioner and other health related professions.

Assessment Methods

This is a 60 credit diploma with two external exams and marked assignments throughout the course at either a pass, merit or distinction.

Introduction to Issues in Health and Social Care - Ungraded – 3 credits

Research Project (Social Issues in Health Care) - Graded – 6 credits

Health and Social Care Provision (Exam) - Graded – 6 credits

Health in a Medicalised World - Graded – 6 credits

Non-Subject Set Units

(9 credits total)

Study Techniques (Level 2) - Ungraded – 3 credits

Study Skills - Ungraded – 3 credits

Academic Writing - Ungraded – 3 credits

Teaching and Learning Methods

The Access to HE course has a range of assessment methods including essays, reports, presentations and exams. There will be formal exams at the end of the programme.

Human physiology – 7 units

Social issues in healthcare – 4 units

Toolkit/ungraded – 3 units.

Assessment: assignments (including seen tests) = 86%, exams = 14%.

Classroom time is 340 hours over the year which equates to 10 hours a week. We would expect private study time (research/background reading/creation of drafts and final reports) to take an extra 10 hours a week.

Industry Placement and Field Trips

There is no work placement as part of this course; however you may wish to contact your chosen university and check if work experience or voluntary work in the health progression is a requirement for their degree programme.

This would be done in your own time and no time allowance would be given as part of this course.

Other Costs and Equipment Needed

All equipment/resources you require for this course are provided by B&FC at no extra cost.

Expert Tutors

All staff involved in the delivery of adult education courses within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver. The approval process ensures that staff delivering a given programme are appropriately qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and professional practice.